Gilda’s House Gilda a fictitious character is the focus of my work that has presented itself in sculpture, painting and installation. A continuing series of works that explore the stories and events through a narrative that often has a shady undercurrent. Eventful and sometimes dangerous Gilda’s life is a masterpiece of survival. She is the reference to assimilation, survival, departure ‘The Other’. Othering is imperative to national identities, where practices of admittance and segregation can form and sustain boundaries and national character. Othering helps distinguish between home and away, the uncertain or certain. It often involves the demonization and dehumanization of groups, which further justifies attempts to civilize and exploit these 'inferior' others. The connection between Gilda’s House and the ‘Other’ manifests itself in the narratives of Gilda life which crosses boundaries conventions and morals. Her journey has taken her across seas and continents Gilda’s House has been part of her existence, human experience, survival and assimilation and will be the main theme of this narrative. As ‘othering’ has political, economic, social and psychological connotations and implications, her narrative considers all of these elements through a correlation of stories and events that are placed in history, myth and legend. However this is not a story board of events but a political commentary on the lives of the ‘other’ the people born outside normal society that take a voyage through life that is troubling but triumphant in survival.

Sue Cohen is Director of OCCUPY MY TIME GALLERY As an artist run space my position as director and curator has been concerned with the role of the artist in the gallery environment and how the space relates to the artists proposals and traditions. The gallery has played a function in engaging with the practitioner, to promote ideas and working practice that encourages the production and construction of work, in a manner that outweighs the commercial and focuses on the fabrication of interaction and communication. My assiduousness as a visual artist has also focused on these philosophies. Gilda’s House explores that interaction that engages with the audience through a narrative that encompasses the viewer with events that question our ethics and beliefs systems.Acknowledgements:I would like to thank Shona Davies and Dave Monaghan for their kind help and support and collaboration with the forthcoming installation of Gilda's House.